Kanye West, Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett-Smith, John Singleton, Lauryn Hill, Hill Harper, Mos ‘Def, and Roanoke’s very own, Patrick Curtis, Tyler Langhorn and Danae Antoine all did it!
They were all winners of the National NAACP ACT—SO Program. If they can do it, then we know that other youth in the Roanoke Valley can do it, too. Although, ACT-SO, an acronym for Afro–Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics, has been around for 35 years, it is considered by some to be a cultural “best kept secret” and people are really talking about how great it is. Now we want Roanoke’s youth to “talk about it” and “be about it”.
The Roanoke Branch of the NAACP is excited about the 5th ACT-SO local competition. In 2005, Patrick Curtis traveled to Wisconsin as a local winner and won a bronze medal in Physics and in 2014, Tyler Langhorn traveled to Las Vegas and won the bronze medal in the Oratory category and in July 2015, Danae Antoine traveled to Philadelphia, PA and won the bronze in the Drawing category.
Please tell everyone who knows a high school student who excels in the areas of Sciences, Filmmaking, Poetry, Drama, Performing (Vocal, Dance, etc.) & Visual Arts (Painting, Photography, etc.), Business, and Culinary Arts ask his or her teaches about ACT-SO. Applications and fact sheets are available at the local high schools. A parent meeting will be held later in January with more information.
The Roanoke Branch is looking for those talented African –American high school students who are willing to showcase their skills and talents in order to win money, prizes, awards and some national recognition at the 2016 National ACT-SO competition in Cincinnati, OH, July 13-17, 2016.
For more information, please contact Gloria Randolph-King, chairperson at 562-0632, Anita Price, co-chair at 982-8789, or President Brenda Hale at 798-1387.
